Floods Across Sumatra Leave 604 Dead, 1.5 Million Affected as President Prabowo Visits Disaster Zones
Key Takeaways
- Severe flooding across Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra has left 604 people dead, 464 missing, and 1.5 million affected, with massive damage to homes, public facilities, and bridges.
- President Prabowo Subianto visited all three disaster-hit provinces, ordered accelerated recovery efforts, and emphasized that basic services such as roads, electricity, and clean water are showing steady improvement.
- BNPB deployed helicopters, heavy machinery, and emergency teams to restore access, deliver supplies, and repair critical infrastructure, especially in isolated areas cut off by landslides.
- BNPB spokesperson Abdul Muhari stressed that opening access and restoring communications are essential to saving lives, as logistics continue to flow across multiple field posts and air routes.
JAKARTA, Investortrust.id — Severe flooding across three provinces in Sumatra has caused extensive loss of life and damage, with 604 people confirmed dead and 464 still missing, according to the National Disaster Management Agency’s, or BNPB, latest disaster recap as of 1 December 2025. At least 2,600 residents were injured, while the total population affected has surged to 1.5 million.
Authorities report that 570,700 people have been displaced across 50 regencies in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra. Aceh recorded the largest share of victims, reporting 955,400 affected residents and 479,300 displaced.
Structural damage is extensive. Across the three provinces, 3,500 homes were severely damaged, 4,100 moderately damaged, and 20,500 lightly damaged. Public facilities also suffered heavy losses, with 282 damaged buildings and 271 broken bridges, further complicating access for relief teams. Aceh saw the worst infrastructure impact, with 2,500 homes destroyed, 3,600 moderately damaged, and 18,200 lightly damaged, in addition to 165 damaged public facilities and 197 broken bridges. North Sumatra reported 124 homes destroyed, while West Sumatra recorded 877.
Search-and-rescue teams continue working in areas where landslides and collapsed bridges have cut off access. Officials warn that casualty figures may still rise as assessments expand into remote locations.
President Prabowo Subianto delivers a statement to the press after inspecting several flood-affected locations in Sumatera on Monday, December 1, 2025. Photo: Presidential Secretariat Press Bureau/Cahyo.
Prabowo Visits Three Provinces, Orders Faster Recovery Efforts
President Prabowo Subianto visited flood-hit regions in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra on Monday, conducting a full-day inspection of evacuation shelters, damaged infrastructure, and isolated communities. He met thousands of affected residents and instructed local and national agencies to accelerate emergency repairs and the distribution of food, water, and medical supplies.
Speaking after inspecting the evacuation center in Padang Pariaman, the President said he had seen signs of steady progress on the ground.
“I saw firsthand that the situation is improving. Most roads in Padang are already passable, even though many bridges remain damaged. Electricity is almost fully restored, and clean-water supply is being fixed.”
He stressed that restoring basic infrastructure is the government’s top priority in the early stage of disaster response. “Step by step, we will bring everything back to normal. We are documenting the full extent of the damage, and the government will arrange the recovery so people can return to their daily lives.”
During his visit, Prabowo also emphasized the importance of reaching communities still cut off by floods and landslides. He confirmed that air operations remain critical in several districts.
“Some areas are still isolated, and for now we have no choice but to rely on air routes. But the good news is that every location can be reached by air.”
The President expressed deep appreciation to the Indonesia Military (TNI), the National Police (Polri), BNPB, the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), local governments, volunteers, and community groups for working non-stop over the past week.
“Our teams are working around the clock—TNI, Polri, BNPB, Basarnas, local governments, volunteers, and the community. Their dedication shows that the state stands with its people during this disaster,” Prabowo said.
Aid delivery to Nagari Sungai Batang in Tanjung Raya District, Agam Regency, which remains isolated due to road access being cut off by landslides on Decembe 1, 2025. Photo: Courtesy of BNPB
BNPB Mobilizes Helicopters, Heavy Equipment, and Emergency Teams
BNPB Chief Suharyanto and Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Pratikno also conducted field inspections in Tapanuli Tengah and Tapanuli Selatan. Local governments reported that collapsed power lines had severed communication, leaving residents unable to contact relatives or request help. Damage in remote areas can only be reached with helicopter support, prompting BNPB to mobilize aircraft to carry PLN technicians directly to damaged grid points.
In Batangtoru, Tapanuli Selatan, Suharyanto and Pratikno observed widespread destruction of homes and vehicles after fast-moving floods carried mud, logs, and debris into residential areas. BNPB instructed field teams to prioritize clearing large timber using heavy machinery to reopen road access.
Relief operations in West Sumatra remain intense. With roads blocked by landslides, helicopters carried four tons of food and non-food supplies to Solok, Agam, and Pasaman Barat on Monday. Deliveries included rice, water, ready-to-eat meals, baby food, mattresses, medicines, family kits, and blankets. More than 1.34 tons were delivered to Pasaman Barat, while 2.3 tons were sent to isolated communities in Agam.
Authorities reported 3,949 evacuees in Solok and nearly 58,000 affected residents in Pasaman Barat, while assessments in Agam continue in villages still unreachable by land.
Abdul Muhari: Access Is Key to Saving Lives
BNPB spokesperson Abdul Muhari underscored that the most urgent challenge remains delivering aid into communities still cut off by broken bridges and landslides. He said BNPB had urged BPBD Agam to activate 13 field posts across the district to speed up logistics and emergency repair efforts.
“When access is cut, aid becomes trapped behind the blockage. This is why logistics must continue moving even when field conditions are extremely difficult,” he said.
The field posts coordinate the distribution of food, water, and medicines, as well as dispatch emergency teams to clear landslide debris, repair damaged roads, and support evacuation centers. Aid has already reached Nagari Sungai Batang in Tanjung Raya, one of the worst-hit areas where road access remains blocked.
Five major roads across Agam remain severed, and BNPB has deployed 10 heavy machines, with another 10 requested to accelerate repairs. Communication networks also remain down in parts of the province, with BNPB coordinating with ministries and telecom operators to restore connectivity.
“Restoring communication is just as important as delivering aid. Many people still cannot reach their families or call for help, and we cannot leave them without information,” Abdul Muhari said.
Over the weekend, BNPB also delivered 1.2 tons of additional aid by air to Palembayan, including ready meals, baby supplies, rice, cooking oil, and blankets.
Nationwide Mobilization Continues
With President Prabowo’s three-province tour concluded and BNPB’s air, land, and sea operations ongoing, emergency teams across Sumatra continue to face dangerous terrain and rapidly changing conditions. Officials say nationwide support will remain at full strength as long as needed, especially as assessments uncover new damage in remote regions.
BNPB expects figures to evolve in the coming days as more areas become reachable. For now, the government says the focus remains clear: opening access, restoring communication, and accelerating the flow of life-saving aid to every affected community.